By: Rifkatu Nghargbu, Victoria Hauwa Ibrahim
Pages: 426–453, Volume: 3, Number: 1
Published by: AEFUNAI Journal of Economics, Finance and Development Studies, Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike, 2/1/2026, 2026
ISSN (Electronic): 2536-6742
DOI:
An Evaluation of Demand for Child Health Care in Four Selected West African Countries
Abstract:
West Africa is one of the regions with the highest number of births in Africa, but child survival is lowest compared to other parts of Africa, with a mortality ratio of 91.5 deaths per 1,000 live births. Despite this, health seeking behavior of mothers seems to be relatively poor and varies across countries in West Africa. The objective of this study is to evaluate demand for child health care and examine factors that account for the differentials in child health care seeking behavior in the four selected West African countries. Using data from the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) and employing a multinomial logit model, the study finds that mother’s education, household wealth, and distance to health facilities are critical determinants of healthcare demand. Significant variations exist between the countries, with Ghana showing higher utilization rates compared to Nigeria. The study recommends improving physical access and maternal education to enhance child survival.
Keywords: Child healthcare demand, Health seeking behavior, Mortality rates, West Africa
How to Cite
Nghargbu, R., & Ibrahim, V. H. (2026). An Evaluation of Demand for Child Health Care in Four Selected West African Countries: Nigeria, Ghana, Gambia, and Liberia. AEFUNAI Journal of Economics, Finance and Development Studies (AEFUNAI-JEFDS), Vol. 3(1), 426–453.
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0)
4.
